The young Vietnamese-American soccer sensation currently playing in Vietnam may come back stateside if negotiations with an unnamed MLS team play out, reports the Yanks-Abroad soccer web site here.
Lee Nguyen, 23, spent the last season in the V-League playing for Hoàng Anh Gia Lai, one of Vietnam’s perrenial powerhouses. In his first season he scored an impressive nine league goals along with 16 assists in 24 appearances.
However, Nguyen has confirmed with Yanks-Abroad that he and his agent “have been in touch with some MLS teams who have shown interest.”
No deal has been struck, though, and Nguyen has not ruled out staying with Hoàng Anh Gia Lai.
“My team HAGL has been able to accommodate plans that I will be very happy with if the MLS is not willing to meet halfway,” he said. “I like to leave my options open at the same time my family’s well being is of great importance.”
A Dallas native, Nguyen at 18 became the only high school player to be named in the USA under-20 team for the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship. As a senior, he was named the 2004-05 Gatorade National Boy Soccer Player of the Year.
After high school, Nguyen declined pro offers and moved from Dallas to Bloomington to play for NCAA powerhouse Indiana University. He was named Freshman of the Year by Soccer Times and Soccer America magazines.
After his freshman year, Nguyen went pro and joined the Dutch team PSV Eindhoven, where he was coached by Guss Hiddink, the former coach of Real Madrid who has also led the national teams of South Korea and Australia and is currently coaching Russia’s national team.
In January 2009, Nguyen joined the Danish club Randers FC and played there for only a few months before bolting to Hoàng Anh Gia Lai. It was once reported that Nguyen may obtain Vietnamese citizenship, but that never came to pass.
It is all about money. Good for him, young kids do not care about the old war, who would anyway? Only the politician use that to entice the old generation to whore for votes.
I hope he will not get the ‘commie scum’ red baiting treatment from the O.C. idiots on this blog.
traitor
GOSSIPSAIGON —> perfect example of a Vietnamese dirtbag.
Vietnamese dirtbags are always willing to say something inflammatory and destructive.
Too many Vietnamese dirtbags in the world.
I’d stay in Vietnam and get away from the Little saigon anti communiist morons running the streets of Bolsa. Viet Nam muon doi.
‘viet nam muon doi’ ….you mean ‘Viet Nam look kinda hungy?’
Yes, you are right, LOL